My hair is wavy but also frizzy and I can't manage it. I would like sleek, straight hair but the problem with heated straighteners is that it lasts only until the next shower. I've heard that chemical straightening lasts at least up to 6 monthes which I'm glad about. But, I've heard some bad stuff about it like it can cause serious damage to your hair, your hair will start falling out, your hair may stop growing. Do you know if any of this is true? Do you know any true consequences that may come out of chemically straightening my hair? Please let me know. My mom wants my answer by this evening but...I'm so unsure....
NOTE: Please don't say natural is better, just the cons of straightening my hair
2007-04-07 11:07:18 · 9 answers · asked by ? 2 in Beauty & Style ➔ Hair
There are two main ways to currently straighten hair- a relaxer (this is sometimes mistakenly called a perm) and thermal reconditioning (this is sometimes called Japanese hair straightening.) Relaxers are extremely tough on hair and are likely to cause hair to break off. This method has been popular with African American women for a long time. Thermal reconditioning is much newer than relaxers and in my opinion it has much better results. The only problem is thermal reconditioning is much more expensive and some African Americans won't find it as effective. However, if your hair isn't excessively coarse and/or coiled than it will still work wonderfully for you. If I was African American and wanted to try out straight hair, I would definitely take this route and maybe try it a second time if it didn't take. Worst case scenerio is that you wasted your money and it doesn't completely take and then you could just embrace your natural hair type. I know 3 women personally who have done this and loved it. One was Puerto Rican and had extremely tight curls and her hair was very puffy. It would puff out several inches from her face. She spent a lot of time controlling it. Now it looks like it has a very slight wave/ mostly straight and it also shines. I am sure it also saves her a lot of time. My other friend is Chinese and she did it just to make her hair very glossy. I am caucasian and did this one day ago. I have wavy hair naturally when short and slightly wavy hair when long. My hair is now very shiny and is a straight as a pin. I also can't believe how soft my hair is. Even better is that it got rid of my fly-aways and sometimes frizzy and puffy hair. I also love my natural wavy hair, but its nice to try different looks on. Besides, this process made my hair feel so much better regardless of how it looks. You can get this done for about $150 for asians, $180 for caucasions with straight or slightly wavy hair, $200 for caucasians/latinas with very curly hair probably about $250 for very coarse/coiled African hair in many asian communities. I got mine done in NYC Chinatown. If you go to a regular salon it will cost $600-$1,000 and the results are exactly the same. Some salons may tell you that you are not eligible if you are of African descent, but keep trying- especially given that your hair isn't the coarsest. Tell them you know your hair may not turn about pin straight, but that you want to give it a chance. I've read about African women who have had great results with it. I would stay away from relaxers; I would never use them if I was an African American woman. I would go natural or thermal recondition.
Good luck either way. :)
2007-04-09 18:15:27 · answer #1 · answered by crystalnichole22 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I had this type of perm which actually straightens your hair. I had it while I was visiting my family in Korea, and i think it was called "magic perm". It makes your hair super straight and manageable. However I think this is what you were talking about. When I did this my hair didn't fall out. Although it did make it feel more thiner due the fact that its all straight and sleek (and I had my hair layered so it made it feel thiner XD).
The cons are...if you want to take care of it you have to use special shampoos and can damage your hair so you have to be extra careful. Also to help keep the shape you might have to blow dry your hair to help keep it straight. Also if the chemicals the person who is doing your hair isn't a very good quality it might damage your hair. Yes chemicals can damage your hair but it won't do serious damage if you take care of it.
2007-04-07 11:19:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chemical hair relaxers contain lye, all of them do. Even the ones that state that there's no lye in them, that's a lie, there is. Traces of lye can be found in the cadavers of black women upon autopsy, in every major organ, including the brain, and that's one of the reasons that it is advised that pregnant women not relax their hair. It does eventually damage the hair and it retards the growth after a period of several months. It may look fantastic in the beginning, but after the hair becomes affected by the process which actually damages the shaft, breaking it down to straighten it, the hair starts to break off. That's why so many black women have to get braided extensions in their hair to give it a break from chemical relaxing treatments. Personally, I don't care for black women straightening their hair, I believe it's a form of self hatred and an attempt to emulate European standards of beauty. I used to relax my hair and that's exactly what I was going for, that white girl look and feel. I wear locs now and it is the most liberating natural hair style that I have ever loved. Still locs aren't for everyone, I realize that, but I encourage you to find ways of styling your hair in it's natural state that celebrate what you are, instead of conforming to European ideology of what is beautiful.
2007-04-07 11:23:35 · answer #3 · answered by sustasue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't do it, it will damage your hair!!! Your hair will go slower and becomes more drier. Plus its way more harder to maintan becuase you need expensive special shampoos, conditioner and care. For some people their hair will fall out!!! And just becuase you chemically straighten your hair dosen't mean its going to be straight becuase for some people it will be wavy!. The best thing you can do is get a good quality straightner like Sedu at www.folica.com and a good heat protectant!!!! Trust me!!
2007-04-07 12:44:23 · answer #4 · answered by Jenny0305 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I worked in a Salon that used and an excellent straightening system that did minimal damage to your hair.. You could call them and ask them if they know of a salon that does it in your area? Keep in mind.. that you will have to up keep this.. grow out isn't pretty... if you have realy curly hair..
the salon is Jim Wayne Salon in Beverly Hills, California... Just call information and they can get you the number
Hope this helps!!
2007-04-07 11:12:18 · answer #5 · answered by luckibear7 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your hair can get dryer if you straighten it chemically. It is damaging. Call the hair salon and ask what they would recommend.
2007-04-07 11:11:28 · answer #6 · answered by A5H13Y 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NOOOOO way do not do it! You WILL REGRET it! Trust me I did it years ago ( it has since grown out) It was when I was like 13 or 14. Ia m 28 now and totally regret doing it. Every woman that I have known to do it, usually regrets it! Work something else out.
2007-04-08 07:52:15 · answer #7 · answered by Jm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did this... and all my hair broke off and was coming out in handfuls! (cries) I remember I was TRAUMATIZED... and my hair has never been the same since (15 years ago).
PLEASE don't do that to your poor hair!
2007-04-07 11:15:38 · answer #8 · answered by Harleigh 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dont do it NO get it falt iron it will break off someday no im getting these really good top selling falt iron from www.folica.com it's called the sedu and it''s 125.00 but worth it
2007-04-07 11:16:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋